Gas powered gun



July 24, 1962 w. R. MALCOLM GAS POWERED GUN Filed March 19. 1959INVENTOR.

WILLIAM R. MALCOLM w ow mm 3 mm mm N mm United States Patent 3,045,659GAS POWERED GUN William R. Malcolm, Baldwin Park, Calili, assignor toCrosman Arms Company, Inc., Fairport, N.Y., a corporation of New YorkFiled Mar. 19, 1959, Ser. No. 800,503 4 Claims. (Cl. 124-11) The presentinvention relates to a gas powered gun, and more particularly to animproved gas powered underwater gun for harpooning large fish andmammals. In another aspect, also, the invention relates to a spear ormissile for use in such a gun.

Heretofore, gas powered underwater guns have been so constructed thatthe projectile or spear is subjected to the gas pressure only uponactuation of the trigger mechanism. With this manner. of operation, thepropelling gas does not have the opportunity to build up to maximumpressure before the spear begins traveling out of the barrel. This modeof operation tends to reduce therange of the projectile relative to thegas pressure which is used to propel it, and uses the gas pressureinefficiently. A full cartridge of gas is required to fire a singleprojectile.

Also, gas powered underwater guns which have heretofore been used, arelarge and bulky. Furthermore, prior construction prevents theprojectiles from being loaded into the gun under water.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improvedunderwater gas powered gun'having means for directly subjecting itsspear or projectile to maximum propelling pressure before the spearbegins traveling forward in the barrel of the gun.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved gas poweredunderwater gun which can fire several times from the gas of a singlecartridge.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved underwatergas powered gun which is shorter and lighter, yet is more powerful thanthe underwater gas powered guns now in use.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved underwatergas powered gun which can readily be reloaded beneath the surface of thewater.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved underwatergas powered gun which can readily be reloaded and refired beneath thesurface of the water.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improvedunderwater gas powered gun adapted to propel a hollow elongated spear,which spear is so constructed that when it is loaded into the gun, itcan discharge the water from its interior prior to firing.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improvedunderwater gas powered gun which is adapted to be used to propel ahollow elongated spear, and which is so arranged that the projectileitself is formed with a gas chamber adapted to receive a gas chargewhich augments the force for propelling the projectile from the barrel.

A still further object of invention is to provide an improved elongatedspear-like projectile for use in an underwater gun of the characterdescribed and having means for providing additional propelling forceafter the projectile leaves the barrel of the gun.

.A still further object of this invention is to provide an improvedunderwater gas powered gun which is powerful in its operation, simple inits construction, and economical to manufacture.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the drawing,the specification, and the appended claims.

- In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of an underwater gun constructedaccording to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the rear portion of the gunshowing how a gas cartridge is mounted in position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of an elongated hollow spearconstructed according to one embodiment of this invention and adapted tobe used with the gun; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the spear shown in FIG. 3showing its inner mechanism in the position it assumes when loaded inthe gun and subjected to gas pressure.

Referring to the drawing, the gun comprises a stock or grip 10, whichsupports an elongated tube or barrel 11 and is attached thereto byscrews 12. The front opening of the tube or barrel 11 is formed toaxially receive an elongated hollow barrel 14 which can be secured tothe tube or barrel 11 by welding, soldering, threading, or otherconventional means. Secured in the interior of the tube or barrel 11 bymeans of a screw 16 is a tubular valve body 20. The valve body 20 has aforward cylindrical portion or stem 22 of reduced diameter, and a raisedshoulder portion 24 which engages a shoulder 26 formed in the tube orbarrel 11.

The valve body 20 is provided with a rearwardly extending stem portion28 which is threaded intermediate its ends as denoted at 32. Extendingaxially through the central portion of the valve body 20 is an elongatedbore or duct 33, which communicates at its front end with the interiorof the 'hollow tube or barrel 11, and communicates adjacent its rear endwith a radial duct 34, which is located rearwardly of the threadedportion 32,. The radial duct 34 extends to the periphery of the portion28 of the valve body.

A piercing pin 35 extends axially from, and is rigidly secured to, therear face of the portion 28. Surrounding this piercing pin and securedto the rear face of the portion 28 is a gasket 36. A housing 38 isadapted to receive a conventional gas cartridge 40 which supplies thegas for propelling the projectile from the gun. The cartridge ispositioned in the housing so that the neck portion of the cartridgebears against a gasket 42 positioned in a counterbore in the housing.The housing 38 has a forwardly extending cylindrical portion 44- ofreduced diameter, which fits into the rear of the tube or barrel 1i, andis adjustably attached to the valve body 20 by the threaded portion 32.A radially extending stop member 45, which is secured in the portion 44,cooperates with an annular slot 46 in the periphery of the body 20 tolimit threading movement of the housing 38 relative to the valve body243 in both directions. The portion of the housing 38, which surroundsthat portion of the stem 28 rearwardly of the threaded portion 32, has aslight clearance with reference thereto. The interior of this reducedportion of the housing is counterbored to provide a seat 48 againstwhich the gasket 36 seats when the housing is threaded forwardly to itslimit position. An O-ring seal 47, which is positioned forwardly of theduct 34, prevents the gas from escaping forwardly of duct 34- betweenthe valve body and the housing. The rear of the housing 38 has a thrustmember 49 (FIG. 2), threaded into it and which is adjustable by a handle50 to force the cartridge 40 forward to pierce it.

A trigger 52 is pivotally mounted in the grip 10 at 54. The trigger 52has a projection 55 which engages an opening of a sear 58 that extendsthrough the grip 10 and the tube or barrel 11 to project slightly intothe tube or barrel 11. A coil spring 59 positioned in the grip 10between the tube or barrel 11 and the trigger 52 urges the trigger in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1.

An elongated projectile or spear, such as is shown in FIG. 3, is adaptedto be used with this gun. The projectile comprises a cylindrical tube orbody 60, the forward end of which is closed by a threaded plug 62. Thejoint between the threaded plug 62 and the tube 66 is pressure sealed byan O-ring 63. A piercing head 64 is threaded into the forward end of theplug 62 at 66. This head comprises a rod 65 and a shaped cap 67.

Rearwardly of rod 65, the plug 62 has an axially extending duct 68therein which communicates at its rear with the interior of the tube 60and at its forward end with a hole 70 which opens at the outside of theplug 62. A tubular member 72 is axially threaded at 73 into the rear ofthe tube 60. The threaded connection is pressure sealed by an O-ring 74,which is positioned between the tube 60 and a shoulder 75 of the member72. The inner or forward end of the bore of the member 72 is formed toprovide an internal coniform valve seat 76.

A coil spring 80 is mounted in the tube 60. The forward end of thespring 80 surrounds the rear, reduced diameter portion of plug 62 andrests against a shoulder 82 on this plug. The rear of the spring 80surrounds a reduced diameter portion of a block 85 and bears against ashoulder 84 formed on this block 85. The block 85 is slidably mounted onthe tube 60, and has an axially extending valve rod 89 attached theretoand extending forwardly in the tube 60. The spring 80 surrounds thisrod. Monuted on the rearward extending portion of the block 85 is asleeve 92. This sleeve is so formed at its rear end that it sealinglyengages the coniform valve seat 76 of the member 72 when the valve isheld in its rearmost position by the spring 80 as shown in FIG. 3. Themember 72 has an O-ring 78 which is adapted to engage the exterior ofthe forward cylindrical portion or stem 22 of valve body 20, when theprojectile is in the gun, to pressure seal the projectile to the valvebody 20 when in firing position.

Surrounding the sleeve 92 and securely attached to block 85 is a sealingring 90 which is adapted to slidingly engage the inside wall of tube 60.The member 72 also has an annular peripheral groove 96 into which thetrigger sear 58 engages when the projectile is in firing position tohold the projectile in position in the gun as will be described indetail hereinafter.

A line 91 which can be tied in either a hole 93 in the forward end ofthe spear 64, or in an opening 95 in the rear portion of the spearmember 64 is provided for retrieving the projectile after it has reachedits target. The line is adapted to be operably attached to aconventional rotatable reel that is mounted in a housing 97 which ismounted beneath the barrel 14 of the gun.

In operation, a gas cartridge 40 is positioned in the housing 38 and thethrust member 49 is threaded inwardly so as to force the neck of thecartridge against the gasket 42 and the piercing pin 35. This piercesthe cartridge 40 but the gasket 42 seals and surrounds the puncture toprevent the escape of gas rearwardly in the housing 38. The elongatedspear is then inserted in the muzzle end of the barrel 14 until the sear58 snaps into the annular groove 96 of the spear. The member 72 nowcompletely surrounds the portion 22 of the valve body and the O-ring 78prevents the escape of gas between the valve body and the spear.

The housing 38 is then threaded rearwardly slightly to disengage theseat 48 from the gasket 36 and to withdraw the piercing projection 35from the cartridge. The gas now escapes from the cartridge 40 throughthe annular space between the housing and the portion 28 of body 20, theradial port 34, and the elongated bore 33, against the rear faces of thepiston valve 92 and of spool 85 in the projectile. The gas pressureforces the piston valve off its seat and the piston valve 92 and thespool 85 move forward against the resistance of the coil spring 80.During this forward travel of the piston 92, the water in the hollowprojectile in front of the spool 85 is forced through the bore 68 andout of the hole 70 in the plug 62. The forward movement of the spoolcontinues until the forward face of the valve rod 89 engages the plug 62and covers the rear opening of the passage 68. In this position, thevalve rod 89 closes the rear end of the bore 63 and prevents any escapeof gas through the hole 70. The valve rod also acts as a stop for theforward movement of the piston 92.

After the elapse of a few seconds, when the pressure has reached thedesired amount, the housing 38 is threaded forwardly relative to thevalve body 20 thus seating the surface 48 of the housing against thegasket 36 on the valve body, thereby preventing any further escape ofgas from the cartridge 40.

The gun is now ready for firing. When a fish or mammal or other targetis seen, the gun is fired by pulling the trigger 52 against the pressureof the spring 59, thereby pulling the trigger sear 58 out of the annulargroove 96 of the spear. The pressure of the gas in the barrel and in thechamber of the tube 60 propels the elongated spear from the gun. Afterthe spear has left the gun, the gas which is still in the interior ofthe tube 60 expands through the rear opening thereof, thereby giving theprojectile an additional reactionary propelling force.

In the event the operator wishes to reload the spear into the gun whilestill under water, he merely inserts the spear into the 'barrel of thegun until the sear 58 snaps into the annular groove 96. The housing isthen unthreaded to release gas into the interior of the projectile asheretofore described.

Thus, I have provided an underwater gun and a projectile which may befired through the water with extreme power and accuracy, and the hollowprojectile may be easily loaded and reloaded into the gun whilesubmerged.

Although the gun shown herein uses carbon dioxide cartridges orcylinders, as the propelling medium, it is understood that anypressurized gas, such as air, may be use While the invention has beendescribed in connection with a specific embodiment, it will beunderstood that it is capable of further modification, and thisapplication is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations ofthe invention following, in general, the principles of the invention andincluding such departures from the present disclosure as come withinknoWn or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertainsand as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth,and as fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a gas powered underwater gun and a projectiletherefor, said projectile being hollow and having a chamber therein, apiston reciprocable in said chamber, spring means constantly urging saidpiston rearwardly in said chamber to close said chamber at its rear end,and a duct connecting the forward end of said chamber with the exteriorof said projectile and through which water may flow out of said chamberwhen said piston is moved forwardly in said chamber by pressure of gas,said gun comprising a tubular barrel adapted to receive said projectile,means engageable with said projectile to hold said projectile releasablyin said barrel, said gun having a chamber for containing gas underpressure, valve means for closing the last-named chamber, said valvemeans being manually openable to admit gas under pressureagainst saidpiston to urge said piston forwardly in said chamber in said projectilewhen said projectile is in said barrel, and a trigger effective whenoperated to disengage said holding means from said projectile so thatthe gas will drive the projectile from said barrel.

2. In combination, a gas-powered underwater gun and a projectiletherefor, said projectile being hollow and having a chamber therein intowhich gas under pressure is adapted to be admitted, a member movableforwardly in said chamber upon admission of gas thereto, and a ductconnecting said chamber with the exterior of said projectile and throughwhich water may flow out of said chamber when said member is movedforwardly in said chamber by the pressure of gas, said member acting toshut off said duct when said member has been moved forwardly in saidchamber a predetermined distance, said gun comprising a tubular barreladapted to receive said projectile, a chamber for containing gas underpressure, a manually operable valve for closing the last-named chamber,said valve being operable to permit gas under pressure to flow from saidlast-named chamber into the first-named chamber against said member whensaid projectile is in said barrel, to force said member forwardly insaid first-named chamber, projectile holding means movably mounted insaid barrel, spring means urging said holding means into engagement withsaid projectile to hold said projectile in said barrel when gas isadmitted to said first-named chamber, and a trigger means eifective whenoperated to disengage said holding means from said projectile so thatthe gas admitted to said first-named chamber will drive the projectilefrom said barrel.

'3. In combination, a gas-powered gun and a hollow projectile having anopening in the rear end thereof, said gun comprising an elongate tubularbarrel, a body mounted in said barrel with its front end terminatingrearwardly of the front end of said barrel, said body having acylindrical projectile Iguiding portion at its front end disposedcoaxially of said barrel and having an outside diameter less than theinner diameter of said barrel, said hollow projectile having an annularwall portion at its rear end snugly positioned in said barrel andcoaxially surrounding said projectile guiding portion of said body,resilient means interposed between the confronting peripheral surfacesof said annular wall portion and said projectile guiding portion of saidbody and operative to provide an airtight seal between saidlast-mentioned surjectile to hold said projectile in said barrel againstthe pressure of said gas, and a trigger on said gun for releasing saidholding means so that the gas in said chamber may drive the projectilefrom said barrel.

4. In combination, a gas-powered underwater gun and a projectiletherefor, said projectile being hollow and having a chamber therein, apiston reciprocable in said chamber, spring means for constantly urgingsaid piston rearwardly in said chamber to close said chamber at its rearend, a duct connecting said chamber with the exterior of said projectileand through which water may be forced from said chamber when said pistonis moved forwardly in said chamber by the pressure of gas, said guncomprising an elongated tubular barrel, the front end of which isadapted to receive said projectile, a tubular valve body mounted in saidbarrel and having :a front portion which terminates rearwardly of theforward end of said barrel and which is in radially spaced relation tothe confronting interior wall of said barrel to form an annular spacetherewith for receiving the rear end of said projectile, said frontportion being adapted to enter the rear end of said projectile, whensaid projectile is in firing position in said barrel, said valve bodyhaving a duct communicating with said projectile when said projectile isin firing position, a valve positioned in said barrel for closing thesecond-named duct, said valve being manually operable to faces, achamber in said hollow projectile intermediate admit gas through saidsecond-named duct and against said piston to move said piston forwardlyin said projectile to permit the gas to flow into said projectile, saidduct and projectile together constituting a chamber to hold gas underpressure when said projectile is in firing position, means engageablewith said projectile to hold said projectile releasably in said barrelagainst the pressure of said gas, and a trigger effective when operatedto disengage said holding means from said projectile so that the gaswill drive the projectile from said barrel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS433,674 DArcy Aug. 5, 1890 1,171,432 Henderson Feb. 15, 1916 2,660,993Blakeslee Dec. 1, 1953 2,784,712 Cassidy Mar. 12, 1957 2,833,266 MaresMay 6, 1958 2,876,577 Brake Mar. 10, 1959 2,923,286 Draganti Feb. 2,1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 924,613 France Mar. 10, *1947

